What Nonprofits Need to Know Most About Technology

Many nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are slowly incorporating digital approaches to data management by using software developed to engage with donors and to collect and analyze data while keeping it safe. According to a NetChange survey of NPOs conducted in 2018, just 11% reported managing digital resources highly effectively. Though late adoption might be due to tight budgets, a lack of technical know-how, and avoiding change, NPOs should be taking steps to move on from spreadsheets and get the best data management and analytics possible.

Given the importance of technology, it comes to reason that an NPO should want a good nonprofit technology strategy. A solid plan can improve your donor’s experiences, have a bigger impact on your community and mission, and enhance awareness and engagement among a diverse group of people. Computers in Ministry (CIM) offers a nonprofit technology helpdesk to get your nonprofit organization the software it needs to carry out its mission. A strategic plan will be created to meet your nonprofit technology needs to ensure the best experiences for your staff and donors. 

How Does Technology Affect Nonprofit Organizations?

In today’s digital environment, it’s next to impossible to maintain efficient operations without the right technology. Technology enables NPO staff and stakeholders to carry out the organization’s mission without the barriers of non-digital solutions. This presents a lot of technology challenges for nonprofits, like difficult data, time, and cost management. However, there are several technological solutions that help NPOs, but how does using technology affect the way NPOs are run? 

Improve Efficiency

Using technology increases the efficiency of an NPO’s operations by taking out the manual work and costs of paper-based processes and replacing them with software solutions. With digitization and automation, not only can your organization increase the effectiveness of data management, but it can save time. This allows board members, employees, or volunteers to focus on more vital tasks like fundraising, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, and other activities that help the organization run more efficiently. 

Retain Employees

NPO employees are often get burnt out due to lower pay and the amount of hours worked. A study from Nonprofit HR reports that in the next five years, 45% of employees said they would look for new or different jobs and a 23% said it would not be in the NPO sector. Technology can alleviate some of the pressure by automating processes that would typically decrease employees’ work-life balance and give them more opportunities for outreach within the organization. It might be a surprise that high employee turnover can be expensive and technology can help mitigate those costs.

Bolster Data Analytics

A nonprofit organization will benefit from data analytics by figuring out who is contributing, why they are donating, and whether they are likely to donate again or increase their gift. Analytics help organizations market and fundraise by identifying targeted donors and building new relationships. Data analysis and visualizations give structured, comprehensive, and easily accessible information for real-time tracking and targeting of operations.

Increase Security

Nonprofits must gather certain sorts of personal and business information from its members and donors and keep it secure. Cybersecurity measures can help to reduce the risk of being hacked with malware and ensure that data isn’t easily accessible. Data security is aided by cloud-based technology, which decreases the risk of losing important documents and databases because it is backed up in a secure location.

With Computers In Ministry, your nonprofit can achieve all of these outcomes by creating a technology plan to find the right software to meet your mission. From constituent relationship management programs to content management systems, CIM will help you build and implement your organization’s technology needs from the ground up.

Can Technology Transform the Nonprofit Sector?

Absolutely! The opportunities that technology affords cannot be understated. By using technology effectively, nonprofits can transform their operations and provide the best services to their constituents while remaining transparent and efficient. One of the main benefits of tech in the NPO sector is the foundation for innovation. By creating new and engaging ways to reach donors, NPOs will be able to grow their outreach and affect their communities positively. Technology leads to better:

• Volunteer management and engagement
• Event planning
• Expense management
• Fundraising activities
• Donor management 

Suffice to say, technology, when implemented effectively, can leave a lasting impact on how organizations run and how they interact with constituents. 

A Better Technology Plan

At CIM, our technology services give you the freedom to move your nonprofit organization to the next level with roadmaps and project management. We’ll help you find the right software and data solutions so you can focus on your constituents rather than the paperwork. Take advantage of all technology has to offer your organization and visit our website today for more information.